May 4, Thursday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he wants to put a revised constitution into force by 2020.
2. North Korea’s state-run media has made a rare direct criticism of China, saying Beijing has sided with the United States in putting pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.
3. Participants in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal have agreed to decide on the direction of the pact without the United States at ministerial talks that will take place in Vietnam late this month.